Flood watch posted for eastern Massachusetts

Friday

May 5, 2017 at 12:01 AMMay 5, 2017 at 7:11 AM

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for most of eastern and central Massachusetts from 2 p.m. Thursday through 8 a.m. Friday.

A low pressure system will pass west of New England, spreading widespread rain across the region with locally heavy downpours and widely scattered thunderstorms. The heaviest rain will fall from mid-afternoon through tonight.

Widespread 1 to 2 inch rain amounts are expected, with 2 to 3 inches possible. The rain may fall at up to an inch an hour, with patchy fog and thunderstorms after 5 p.m. The temperature will be in the mid 50s, with light winds..